22 / 30
Page 53
Notes:
allied
academies
Journal of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Research | Volume 3
November 26-27, 2018 | Dubai, UAE
Spine and Spine Disorders
Addiction Research and Therapy
3rd International Conference on
International Conference on
Joint Event
&
Harm Reduction Psychotherapy: A promising approach to Addiction Treatment
Karine E Bekhazi
Novomeds Clinics, UAE
W
ith increasing rates of substance misuse disorders, there
has been a rise of interest in non-traditional psychological
routes of treatment. Addiction has been identified as a chronic
illness, the effects of which run across generations, making it
one of the most challenging mental health problems to treat,
often with poor therapeutic outcomes and high rates of relapse
(Monti et al., 1999). Harm Reduction strategies arise from
this very assumption that most people will continue to use
substances despite receiving help froman array of services, thus
making abstinence a somewhat unattainable goal (Collins et al.,
2015), and instead focuses primarily on valuable incremental
changes that can minimize the potential for harm (Tatarsky,
2003). Traditional macro-level harm reduction strategies target
associated risk factors (sexual risks, sharing of needles/ HIV,
driving accidents, social pressure, pain management) as they
can perpetuate substance misuse outside the walls of the
therapy room. From a psychotherapy perspective however,
Harm Reduction essentially involves intervening at the pre-
action stage, by assessing risk of harm, aligning therapeutic
practices to meet the client where they are and decreases
resistance by addressing ambivalence towards change (Miller &
Rollnick, 2012).Harmreductionasastartingpoint in therapy, has
previously been associated with enhancement of client’s self-
efficacy andmotivation to bring about further positive changes,
as well as a subsequent increase with engagement in long-term
psychotherapy (Denning&Little, 2011). Harmreduction therapy
also promises to be an advantageous method of intervention,
especially due to the easewithwhich it can be integratedwithin
primary care settings as well as emergency medical services.
This presentation will address emerging empirical evidence
about Harm Reduction Psychotherapy, its clinical practice and
discuss its wider implications for the treatment of addiction.
Speaker Biography
Kareen E Bekhazi is Head of Novomed Psychiatry & Neurology’s Psychology Department
and holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from California Southern University. She
has completed extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) from the Beck
Institute in the USA, with a focus on depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders and personality
disorders. She is also trained in newer modalities such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). She has many professional interests and
treats a variety of mental disorders. She is highly experienced in treating substance abuse
and addictions with integrative harm therapy. This experience includes working with the
UN Office of Drugs and Crimes as a delegate to train other mental health professionals to
deliver addiction treatment in the Mena region. She also specializes in treating couples
using the acclaimed HEART approach. She firmly agrees with author and therapist David
Richo’s assertion that “our wounds are most often the openings into the best and most
beautiful part of us”.
e:
karinebekhazi@hotmail.com